U.S. patent application number 16/587437 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-23 for microwave connector assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to TE Connectivity Germany GmbH. The applicant listed for this patent is TE Connectivity Germany GmbH. Invention is credited to Carlos Almeida, Jorg Bieber, Andreas Engel, Stefan Glaser, Rolf Jetter, Wolfgang Muller, Gunther Mumper, Nhu Lam Nguyen, Christian Rusch, Martin Seifert.
Application Number | 20200028229 16/587437 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58461233 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200028229 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rusch; Christian ; et
al. |
January 23, 2020 |
Microwave Connector Assembly
Abstract
A microwave connector assembly comprises a waveguide ferrule
having a receiving end receiving a dielectric waveguide, a
connecting end distal to the receiving end, and a locking member,
and a ferrule socket at least partially receiving the waveguide
ferrule in a ferrule receptacle. The ferrule socket engages in a
locking connection with the locking member. The ferrule socket has
a coding member engaging a complementary coding member of the
waveguide ferrule only when the waveguide ferrule is positioned
relative to the ferrule socket in a single predetermined angular
position or in one of two predetermined angular positions that are
rotated by 180.degree. with respect to each other.
Inventors: |
Rusch; Christian; (Waldsee,
DE) ; Almeida; Carlos; (Reinheim, DE) ;
Mumper; Gunther; (Egelsbach, DE) ; Glaser;
Stefan; (Heppenheim, DE) ; Jetter; Rolf;
(Darmstadt, DE) ; Bieber; Jorg; (Darmstadt,
DE) ; Seifert; Martin; (Bensheim, DE) ;
Muller; Wolfgang; (Darmstadt, DE) ; Engel;
Andreas; (Frankisch-Crumbach, DE) ; Nguyen; Nhu
Lam; (Bensheim, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TE Connectivity Germany GmbH |
Bensheim |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
TE Connectivity Germany
GmbH
Bensheim
DE
|
Family ID: |
58461233 |
Appl. No.: |
16/587437 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP2018/058324 |
Mar 30, 2018 |
|
|
|
16587437 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01P 1/04 20130101; G02B
6/3825 20130101; G02B 6/3851 20130101; H01R 13/6456 20130101; H01P
1/042 20130101; H01P 11/006 20130101; G02B 6/3812 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01P 1/04 20060101
H01P001/04; H01P 11/00 20060101 H01P011/00; G02B 6/38 20060101
G02B006/38; H01R 13/645 20060101 H01R013/645 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 30, 2017 |
EP |
17163967.7 |
Claims
1. A microwave connector assembly, comprising: a waveguide ferrule
having a receiving end receiving a dielectric waveguide, a
connecting end distal to the receiving end, and a locking member;
and a ferrule socket at least partially receiving the waveguide
ferrule in a ferrule receptacle, the ferrule socket engaging in a
locking connection with the locking member, the ferrule socket
having a coding member engaging a complementary coding member of
the waveguide ferrule only when the waveguide ferrule is positioned
relative to the ferrule socket in a single predetermined angular
position or in one of two predetermined angular positions that are
rotated by 180.degree. with respect to each other.
2. The microwave connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the
complementary coding member is a flattened portion.
3. The microwave connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the
flattened portion is flattened in a direction opposite a radial
direction of the waveguide ferrule.
4. The microwave connector assembly of claim 1, wherein a pair of
complementary coding members are located at radially opposite sides
of a waveguide ferrule base of the waveguide ferrule.
5. The microwave connector assembly of claim 4, wherein a pair of
coding members are located at radially opposite sides of the
ferrule receptacle.
6. The microwave connector assembly of claim 1, wherein a pair of
coding members are located at radially opposite sides of the
ferrule receptacle.
7. The microwave connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the
complementary coding member is a coding recess.
8. The microwave connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the
waveguide ferrule has a fin located within the coding recess.
9. The microwave connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the
dielectric waveguide has a free end extending beyond the waveguide
ferrule.
10. The microwave connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising
a retainer insertable into the ferrule socket.
11. The microwave connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the
retainer has a secondary locking member engaging the locking member
and preventing the waveguide ferrule from being removed from the
ferrule socket.
12. The microwave connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the
ferrule socket has a pair of ferrule receptacles positioned
opposite each other.
13. The microwave connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the
connecting end of each of a pair of waveguide ferrules are
positioned in the ferrule receptacles and are spaced apart from
each other less than one wavelength of microwave radiation.
14. A microwave transmission assembly, comprising: a dielectric
waveguide having a waveguide end; a microwave connector assembly
including a waveguide ferrule having a receiving end receiving the
dielectric waveguide, a connecting end distal to the receiving end,
and a locking member, and a ferrule socket at least partially
receiving the waveguide ferrule in a ferrule receptacle, the
ferrule socket engaging in a locking connection with the locking
member, the ferrule socket having a coding member engaging a
complementary coding member of the waveguide ferrule only when the
waveguide ferrule is positioned relative to the ferrule socket in a
single predetermined angular position or in one of two
predetermined angular positions that are rotated by 180.degree.
with respect to each other; and a microwave emitter disposed on a
flat side of a circuit board, the microwave emitter has a microwave
antenna with a radiation pattern that is at least partially
directed towards the waveguide end, the waveguide end is located on
the flat side of the circuit board.
15. The microwave transmission assembly of claim 14, wherein the
ferrule socket is fastened to the flat side of the circuit
board.
16. The microwave transmission assembly of claim 14, wherein the
ferrule socket is disposed within a footprint of the circuit
board.
17. The microwave transmission assembly of claim 16, wherein the
dielectric waveguide is oriented slanted or perpendicular with
respect to the flat side of the circuit board.
18. The microwave transmission assembly of claim 14, wherein the
waveguide end extends out of the ferrule socket.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of PCT International
Application No. PCT/EP2018/058324, filed on Mar. 30, 2018, which
claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to European Patent
Application No. 17163967.7, filed on Mar. 30, 2017.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a connector assembly and,
more particularly, to a microwave connector assembly.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Dielectric waveguides may be used to transmit millimeter
waves, also referred to as microwaves, in communication links with
high data rates. If the dielectric waveguide has a rectangular
core, the direction of the linear polarized waveguide mode guided
within the waveguide is defined by the shape of the core, in
contrast to a circular core which guides polarized microwaves
without predominant direction. Known polarization-maintaining
waveguides, however, are difficult to handle.
SUMMARY
[0004] A microwave connector assembly comprises a waveguide ferrule
having a receiving end receiving a dielectric waveguide, a
connecting end distal to the receiving end, and a locking member,
and a ferrule socket at least partially receiving the waveguide
ferrule in a ferrule receptacle. The ferrule socket engages in a
locking connection with the locking member. The ferrule socket has
a coding member engaging a complementary coding member of the
waveguide ferrule only when the waveguide ferrule is positioned
relative to the ferrule socket in a single predetermined angular
position or in one of two predetermined angular positions that are
rotated by 180.degree. with respect to each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The invention will now be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waveguide assembly
according to an embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a waveguide assembly
according to another embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a microwave
connector assembly according to an embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side view of the microwave connector assembly of
FIG. 3;
[0010] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a microwave
transmission assembly according to an embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a microwave transmission
assembly according to another embodiment; and
[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a microwave transmission
assembly according to another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)
[0013] The present invention will be described in greater detail by
way of example using several embodiments with reference to the
appended drawings. The embodiments merely represent possible
configurations in which individual features can be realized and
omitted independently of each other. In the description of the
embodiments, the same technical features and technical features
having the same effect are provided with the same reference
numerals.
[0014] A waveguide assembly 1 according to an embodiment, as shown
in FIG. 1, comprises a dielectric waveguide 3 which is inserted
into a waveguide ferrule 5. The waveguide ferrule 5 includes a
waveguide ferrule base 7 which is embodied as a hollow shape
depending on the waveguide 3 outer shape and extends along a
longitudinal direction 11. In the shown embodiment, the waveguide
ferrule base 7 is a cylinder 9.
[0015] The waveguide ferrule 5, as shown in FIG. 1, has a receiving
end 13 receiving the dielectric waveguide 3 along the longitudinal
direction 11. Distal to the receiving end 13, the waveguide ferrule
5 has a connecting end 15. A waveguide end 17, a facet 19 of the
dielectric waveguide 3, extends to the connecting end 15 of the
waveguide ferrule 5 in the embodiment of the waveguide assembly 1
shown in FIG. 1. The waveguide end 17 is the portion of the
waveguide 3 prepared for coupling microwave radiation into the
waveguide 3 or for coupling microwave radiation out of the
waveguide 3. The waveguide end 17 may be obtained by splicing the
waveguide 3, wherein during the splicing the clean-cut end face or
facet 19 is obtained at the waveguide end 17.
[0016] At the facet 19 of the dielectric waveguide 3, the structure
of the dielectric waveguide 3 is visible, as shown in FIG. 1. A
waveguide core 21 of a rectangular shape is surrounded by a
cladding 23 which has essentially a circular outer shape. In other
embodiments, the shape can also vary, and may be a square, or the
like.
[0017] The waveguide ferrule base 7, as shown in FIG. 1, has an
inner free diameter 25 and the dielectric waveguide 3 has an outer
diameter 27. In embodiments with different shapes, such as square
or rectangular, dimensions of the waveguide ferrule base 7 and the
dielectric waveguide 3 are given by one or more straight lengths
such as width and height. In FIG. 1, the inner free diameter 25 and
the outer diameter 27 are indicated with one double-headed arrow,
wherein the inner free diameter 25 may be embodied slightly smaller
than the outer diameter 27, such that the dielectric waveguide 3 is
held within the waveguide ferrule 5 by a frictional fit 29.
Different connections between the dielectric waveguide 3 and the
waveguide ferrule 5 are known in the art and not shown in the
figures.
[0018] The waveguide ferrule 5, as shown in FIG. 1, further
comprises three locking members 31 which are embodied as collars 33
which extend from the waveguide ferrule base 7 in a radial
direction 35 and at least partially around the waveguide ferrule
base 7 in a circumferential direction 37. The collar 33 may be
attached to the waveguide ferrule base 7 in a monolithic or a
two-piece manner by appropriate attachments, such as welding,
soldering or the like. The locking members 31 shown in FIG. 1 do
not entirely extend around the waveguide ferrule base 7, but
include a complementary coding member 38 which is embodied as a
coding recess 39. The coding recess 39 is further embodied as a
flattened portion 41. For the sake of visibility, only one coding
recess 39 embodied as flattened portion is provided with a
reference numeral in FIG. 1.
[0019] The radial direction 35 shown in FIG. 1 is only one
representative of a multitude of possible radial directions 35
which extend from a center 43 of the waveguide ferrule 5 towards
the waveguide ferrule base 7. The flattened portion 41 of the
locking members 31 is flattened in a direction opposite the radial
direction 35. The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have a fiber
ferrule 5 with one single coding recess, wherein in different
embodiments, a second coding recess may be provided which is
located at a radially opposing side of the waveguide ferrule base
7.
[0020] A waveguide assembly 1 according to another embodiment,
shown in FIG. 2, includes a coding member 45 which is embodied as a
fin 47. The coding member 45 is located within a second coding
recess 39b and within a third coding recess 39c, but is spaced
apart from a first coding recess 39a by a distance in a direction
opposite the longitudinal direction 11.
[0021] A projection 51 along the cylindrical waveguide ferrule 5,
i.e. in a direction opposite to the longitudinal direction 11, is
shown in a section 49 in FIG. 2. The projection 51 shows the facet
19 of the dielectric waveguide 3, the waveguide ferrule base 7 and
the locking member 31. In the projection 51 only a first locking
member 31a is visible, wherein the second 31b and third locking
member 31c are covered by the first locking member 31a. The first,
second and third coding recess 39a, 39b, 39c are arranged behind
each other, such that the coding member 45 is located within all
coding recesses 39a-39c in the projection 51.
[0022] A microwave connector assembly 55 according to an
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, comprises two waveguide assemblies
1 and a ferrule socket 53. The ferrule socket 53 includes an inner
member 57 and an outer member 59, wherein the inner member 57 may
be inserted into the outer member 59. The microwave connector
assembly 55 comprises two ferrule receptacles 61, into which the
waveguide ferrule 5 of the respective waveguide assemblies 1 may be
inserted.
[0023] The waveguide assembly 1 and the ferrule socket 53 are
arranged linearly along a waveguide axis 63, as shown in FIG. 3.
The waveguide assemblies 1 are arranged on opposite sides 65a and
65b of the ferrule socket 53 and face each other with their
respective facets 19.
[0024] The waveguide ferrules 5 shown in FIG. 3 are embodied
according to a second embodiment of the inventive waveguide ferrule
and are distinct from the waveguide ferrules shown in FIGS. 1 and
2. The waveguide ferrules 5 shown in FIG. 3 only include a first
locking member 31a and a second locking member 31b, with the second
locking member 31b having a larger dimension along a direction
parallel to the waveguide axis 63 than the first locking member
31a. The waveguide ferrules 5 of FIG. 3 each have four coding
recesses 39, two of them being located below each of the
corresponding waveguide ferrules 5. Overall, four coding recesses
39 are hidden in the view of FIG. 3.
[0025] Receiving the waveguide ferrule 5 within the ferrule
receptacle 61 is similar for both of the shown waveguide ferrules
5, therefore the following description refers to a first connection
region 67, the principles of which may be transferred to a second
connection region 68 shown in FIG. 3. Within the ferrule receptacle
61, a coding member 69 is visible that extends inside the ferrule
receptacle 61. On the opposite side of the ferrule receptacle 61, a
second coding member 69 extends into the ferrule receptacle 61 in a
direction opposite to the first coding member 69 shown in FIG. 3.
The connecting ends of the two waveguide ferrules 5 are positioned
in the corresponding ferrule receptacles 61 and are separated apart
from each other less than one wavelength of the microwave
radiation. The two waveguide ferrules 5 may be positioned less than
half a wavelength, less than a quarter wavelength, and even more
less than one tenth of one wavelength of the microwave radiation
apart from each other.
[0026] If the waveguide assembly 1 of the first connection region
67 is inserted into the inner member 57, there are basically two
predetermined angular positions of the waveguide ferrule 5 with
respect to the ferrule receptacle 61 in which the coding members 69
of the ferrule receptacle 61 are received within the coding
recesses 39 of the waveguide ferrule 5. The predetermined angular
positions 71 are indicated in the schematic 49 of FIG. 3. In order
to distinguish a first predetermined angular position 71a and a
second predetermined angular position 71b, rotated by 180.degree.
with respect to each other, an indicator mark 73 is provided at the
locking members 31 just for this explanation. The engagement of the
coding member 69 with the coding recess 39 allows the waveguide
ferrule 5 to be reliably, reproducibly and easily rotated into a
predetermined angular position in which two dielectric microwave
waveguides 3 or a microwave waveguide 3 and a ferrule socket 53 may
be coupled to each other with minimized coupling losses.
[0027] In an embodiment, a polarization-maintaining connection
between two polarization-maintaining components has exactly two
predetermined angular positions in which coupling losses are
minimized. The polarization-maintaining components may, for
instance, be two polarization-maintaining dielectric waveguides 3
or a dielectric waveguide 3 and a ferrule socket 53.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, if the waveguide ferrule 5 is positioned
in an arbitrary angular position 75, the coding member 69 of the
ferrule receptacle 61 abuts the first locking member 31a during an
attempt to insert the waveguide ferrule 5 into the ferrule
receptacle 61. In such an arbitrary angular position 35 of the
waveguide ferrule 5, further insertion and locking between the
waveguide ferrule 5 and the ferrule socket 53 is not possible.
[0029] In an embodiment, the microwave connector assembly 55 may
have more than two coding recesses 39 and coding members 69,
wherein such an embodiment has an even number of coding recesses 39
and coding members 69 resulting in a rotational symmetry of two.
Such a microwave connector assembly 55 may have a non-equal angular
spacing between the coding members 69 and coding recesses 39.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, a resilient arm 77 is embodied at the
inner member 57 as well as at the outer member 59, wherein each of
the resilient arms 77 has a counter locking member 79, shown in the
schematic 49 for a partially drawn and isolated resilient arm 77.
Upon receipt of the waveguide ferrule 5 within the ferrule
receptacle 61, the resilient arm 77 abuts the locking member 31
with a ramp 81 and deflects the resilient arms 77 away from the
waveguide ferrule 5 in the radial direction 35. The locking member
31 slides along the ramp 81 until a final position, shown in FIGS.
6 and 7, is reached. In the final position, the counter locking
member 79 latches behind the locking member 31. In the final
position, the resilient arm 77 relaxes back to the state shown in
FIG. 4.
[0031] The locking member 31 and the resilient arm 77 with its
counter locking member 79 form a primary lock 83, shown in FIG. 4,
that prevents unintentional removal of the waveguide ferrule 5 from
the ferrule receptacle 61. The primary lock 83 may be further
supported by a secondary lock 85 shown in FIG. 3; the secondary
lock 85 is formed by a retainer 87. In an embodiment, the primary
lock 83 is formed only if the waveguide ferrule 5 is received in
the ferrule socket 53 in a predetermined angular position.
[0032] The retainer 87, as shown in FIG. 3, is a substantially
U-shaped part 89 with a base 91 and two secondary locking members
93 that extend substantially perpendicular from the base 91. The
secondary locking members 93 each have an arc-shaped abutment front
95, which, when the retainer 87 is inserted into the inner member
57 or the outer member 59 in a direction opposite the radial
direction 35 through an opening of the ferrule socket 53, abut the
waveguide ferrule base 7 or the dielectric waveguide 3 next to the
locking members 31. The arc-shaped abutment fronts 95 also prevents
a relative movement between the waveguide ferrule 5 and the ferrule
receptacle 61, as the retainers 87 also abut the inner member 57 or
the outer member 59. In an embodiment, the secondary locking
members 93 may be collar-like locking members.
[0033] The outer diameter 27 of the waveguide ferrule 5 may be
defined at a position at which the locking member 31 is located.
The waveguide ferrule base 7, which has a smaller outer diameter
than the portion with the locking member 31, as well as the portion
with the locking member 31, may be received within the ferrule
receptacle 61 with a sufficiently small play. A sufficiently small
play is to be understood as the allowable tolerances in the
positioning between the waveguide ferrule 5 and the ferrule socket
53, within which coupling losses are avoided. Depending on the
wavelength of the microwaves used, said tolerances are different
for different applications.
[0034] The microwave connector assembly 55 incorporated into a
microwave transmission assembly 98 is shown in FIG. 5. The
microwave transmission assembly 98 includes a circuit board 97. An
outer member 59, that forms part of the ferrule socket 53, is
attached to a flat side 99a of the circuit board 97 and an
attachment section 101. The ferrule socket 53 extends over an edge
103 of the circuit board 97. The inner member 57 shown in FIG. 5
corresponds to the inner member 57 of FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein the
outer member 59 is embodied differently in FIG. 5.
[0035] A microwave transmission assembly 98 according to another
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, has the dielectric waveguide 3
oriented essentially perpendicular to the circuit board 97. The
dielectric waveguide 3 is inserted into a waveguide ferrule 5, not
visible in FIG. 6, which is received in the ferrule receptacle 61
of the ferrule socket 53. The facet 19 of the dielectric waveguide
3 is therefore oriented essentially parallel to the circuit board
97. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the ferrule socket 53 and
the dielectric waveguide 3 extend away from the circuit board 97
and are located within a footprint 105 of the circuit board 97. The
footprint 105 is to be understood as an area covered by the circuit
board 97.
[0036] In an embodiment, the electric assemblies 98 of FIGS. 5 and
6 comprise a microwave emitter 107. The microwave emitter 107 is
shown in another embodiment of the microwave transmission assembly
98 in FIG. 7.
[0037] The microwave emitter 107, as shown in FIG. 7 and indicated
by a cuboid volume, includes an antenna 109 which is also only
schematically indicated by a cuboid. The antenna 109 may be
embodied in different ways and may, for instance, be an end-fire
antenna, such as a Vivaldi antenna 111, or broadside radiating
antenna, such as a patch, that simulates a linearly polarized
microwave.
[0038] In the view 49 of FIG. 7, a side view of the circuit board
97, the microwave emitter 107 and the antenna 109, as well as the
dielectric waveguide 3 are shown. The dielectric waveguide 3 shown
in FIG. 7 is referred to as excess end 113; a portion of the
waveguide 3 extending beyond the waveguide ferrule 5. From the
antenna 109, microwave radiation 115 is emitted towards the facet
19 of the excess end 113 and coupled into the waveguide core 21. An
emission direction 117 is essentially parallel to the orientation
of the excess end 113. The microwave radiation 115 has a specific
radiation pattern 110 depending on the antenna 109 used. The
microwave radiation 115 may be transmitted through an opening in
the ferrule socket 53 to the ferrule receptacle 61.
[0039] The radiation pattern 110 may have a main lobe of radiation,
wherein the antenna 109 is positioned such that the main lobe of
radiation is directed towards the dielectric waveguide 3, such that
the microwaves may be coupled into the dielectric waveguide 3. The
radiation pattern of the microwave antenna 109 may also be referred
to as far-field or antenna pattern. In an embodiment, the microwave
emitter 107 and its antenna 109 are oriented such that a main lobe
of the microwave radiation is emitted in a direction slanted or
perpendicular to the circuit board 97. Accordingly, the ferrule
receptacle 61 and the waveguide ferrule 5 received within the
ferrule receptacle 61 are oriented essentially along the same
direction as the main lobe of the emitted microwave radiation.
[0040] In order to allow an assembly of the excess end 113 close to
the circuit board 97, the cladding 23 of the excess end 113 is
partially cut to form a chamfer 119, as shown in FIG. 7. The
chamfer 119 abuts the circuit board 97.
[0041] In the embodiment of the microwave transmission assembly 98
shown in FIG. 7, the ferrule socket 53 is completely located within
the footprint 105 and on the flat side 99a of the circuit board 97.
The dielectric waveguide 3 received within the ferrule socket 53
extends through a waveguide ferrule 5 which allows for providing a
predetermined angular position of the waveguide ferrule 5 with
respect to the ferrule socket 53. A view 49a schematically shows
the dielectric waveguide 3, the waveguide ferrule 5 and the excess
end 113 of FIG. 7 without the ferrule socket 53. The dashed lines
indicate that the dielectric waveguide 3 extends through the
waveguide ferrule 5, in particular beyond the connecting end
15.
* * * * *